In many parts of the world, increased variability in climatic conditions is already resulting in wide ranging impacts, especially on water resources and agriculture.

Water is already a limiting resource for development in South Africa and a change in water supply could have major implications in most sectors of the economy, especially in the agriculture sector. Current modelling scenarios suggest that there will be significant climate change impacts in South Africa.

The WRC first recognised the potential impacts of climate change on the water resources of South Africa as a priority area for research in the mid-1980s. Initially research focused on mechanisms and teleconnections (especially links with sea surface temperatures that affect South Africa's climate). Since then the Commission has invested more than R30-million on research dedicated to finding out the potential effects of climate change on the country's water resources.